Volunteers open books during Read Across America event

Along with other school administrators and community officials, school board members read to children in classrooms throughout Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in celebration of Read Across America.

Held annually on Dr. Seuss’ birthday, Read Across America promotes the world-renowned children’s author’s quest to help all kids foster a love of reading.

Mayor Barbara Wallace, Fire Chief John Hoffman, Superintendent Bob Goldschmidt, Washington Township High School Executive Principal Joe Bollendorf , Board of Education members Ginny Murphy, Josh Aronovitch and Kurt Snyder were among the guest readers, choosing to read from their own favorite books and some Dr. Seuss classics.

“I love it because reading is the base of all education,” Snyder said. “With the internet and computers, it’s great to see them pick up a book and interpret it for themselves. I love the idea of reading … they can stretch their imaginations.”

The day also get a boost from technology, when Murphy chose to read her selection—a Curious George book—from her iPad.

“I wanted to set a good example. We’re trying to promote technology in our schools,” said Murphy, who was one of the biggest proponents of the board’s recent switch to paperless meetings. “I thought the first graders would be excited about it. It’s something different.”

And they were excited, with a few chiming in about reading books on their own iPods and Nook e-readers.

Aronovitch stopped into a classroom that he was pretty familiar with —his mother, Leona Aronovitch’s, classroom.

“This is what it’s all about. I’ve always loved to read and the opportunity to share that with the kids is precious,” Aronovitch said.

After Aronovitch read to the students, Assistant Superintendent Joseph Vandenberg took the hot seat and showed one of his favorites poems as a child to the students — “The Pirate Don Durk of Dowdee.” He even read from the same 1960s-era edition he cherished as a child.

“I love spending time with the kids,” Vandenberg said. “I like getting them interested, and understanding their perspective on different characters.”

Getting back into the classroom was something Goldschmidt enjoyed as well.

When he walked into Mathew Loiacono and Stacey Sheridan’s fifth-grade class, many of the students were more than familiar with Dr. Seuss’ repertoire, but Goldschmidt helped them understand just why his work and unique writing style has touched so many lives.

“He almost invented a whole new language,” Goldschmidt told the children, “The way he wrote helped a lot of us learn how to read. He helped connect what we hear to what we see on the page.”

To show them just what he meant, Goldschmidt read from one of Dr. Seuss’ classics, “Yertle the Turtle,” and the excitement from the class was easily heard.

“Yertle the Turtle is my favorite book!” exclaimed Gabby Santilli, who seemed to know almost every word of the book.

And while they may have moved onto a bit higher reading level at their age, going back to the classics didn’t bother fifth-grader Rocko DiDonato one bit.